While working on Iolanta and Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky was also preparing for an American tour. During his New York stay in 1891, he noted in his diary that he loved strolling down Broadway and was in awe of this "extraordinary street" with "colossal" buildings. He couldn't understand how one could live on the 13th floor. Once, full of excitement, he went up on a roof of one of these buildings to enjoy the view of Broadway, and thought it was splendid.